The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) that has been playing a pivotal role in engaging high profile policy makers from India and the US is now keen to focus on strategic economic, trade and business relationship in agriculture with the United States.
The IACC’s North India Council chose the subject of robust economic growth and commercial cooperation in the area of agriculture and food processing for better use of its farm output besides other important sectors like IT, solar, textile, apparels, infrastructure and manufacture, which attract Rajasthan a tie-up avenue.
Scott Sindelar, minister counsellor, agriculture affairs, the US embassy in New Delhi, addressing the Jaipur chapter of the newly-formed IACC’s Northern India Council (NIC) at the SMS Convention Centre recently, said that in the last two decades India increased its agriculture exports to 800 per cent.
“India’s agriculture export to USA is $5 billion and India imports only $1 billion worth of agriculture products - mostly almonds from US. But there is enough to be done in food processing and nutrition where US can really help the food processing sector. India uses only 12 per cent of its agro produce for the purpose of food processing and it should do something to increase it manifold,” said Sindelar.
According to Sindelar, as India is a fast emerging economy it should look at the agriculture sector for higher farm output and this could be attained by building infrastructure like cold chains and warehouses where the food could be preserved thus reducing the wastage which is very high now.
He said that the food processing industry should go for nutritional products as India suffers from large-scale malnutrition problems and the producers of nutritional food with vitamins and proteins would have a good market.
Irina Garg, director-general, National Institute of Agriculture Marketing (NIAM), stressed on the need for institutional tie-ups for sharing knowledge in the area of agriculture marketing.
Dr Lalit Bhasin, president, IACC’s northern regions, in his introductory remark said that the new chapter formed at Jaipur will help the exporters of Rajasthan.
Sanjay Mehta, regional VP, IACC-NIC, said, “Rajasthan is an upcoming economy and in years to come it would be a big industrial and business destination and would compete with Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Gyan Prakash, advisor, IACC, Jaipur chapter, said that the new chapter with Sanjeev Bali, MD, Mount Shivalik, as the chairman will promote bilateral trade, investment, economic relations and facilitate joint ventures and marketing.
